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(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. C. E. CHAMPION.

ELECTRICAL PYROTBGHNIGS.

No. 465,981. Patented Dec. 29, 1 891.

8 Sheets- Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

P. C. E. CHAMPION. ELECTRICAL PYROTBGHNIGS. No. 465,981.

Patented Deo. Z9, 1891.

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ELECTRICAL PYROTBCHNIGS.

P atented Dec. 29, 1891.

(No Model.) 8 SheetS--Sheet 5.

P. C. E. CHAMPION. ELECTRICAL PYROTBGHNIGS.

No. 465,981. Patented Deo. 29 1891.

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P. C. E. CHAMPION. ELECTRICAL PYRGTEGHNIGS.

No. 465,981. Patented'Deo. .29, 1891.

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P. C. E. CHAMPION. ELECTRICAL PYROTBHNIGS.

No. 465,981. Patented Deo. 29, 1891.

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PIERRE CHARLES EUGENE CHAMPION, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

ELECTRICAL PYROTECHNICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,981, dated Doce;

ber 29,1891.

Application tiled May 15,1891. Serial No. 392.811. (Nov model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known lthat I, PIERRE. CHARLES EU- GENE CHAMPION, of the city ofParis, France, have invented Improvements in the Application otElectricity for the Production of Pyrotechnic and other Similar Effects,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the production of pyrotechnic effects by meansof electricity.

In accomplishing my invention I make use of a key-board and commutatorin conjunction with incandescent or analogous electric lights arrangedin series. The combination of these devices an d the appearance ofmotion imparted to the lights, either separately or in groups by meansof special mechanism hereinafter described, will enable all the luminouseffects heretofore obtained by ordinary pyrotechnic compositions to berealized.

The invention also includes the mechanism and arrangements whereby theeffects of light and movement are obtained.

My invention can also be used for the production of pyrotechnicaleffects in combination with gunpowder or pyrotechnic composition,Wherever this can be done without danger, for the production of combinedelfects.

Among the various pyrotechnical devices which may be produced by meansof my invention may be mentioned serpents or rockets, simple or multipleCatherine Wheels, cascades, girandoles, fountains, and, in short, allthe large pyrotechnical pieces which" have heretofore been stationary asto position, but which by my invention may be animated with anymovements suited to the general effect to be produced. I will describesome of these pieces with reference to the accompanying drawings,forming part of this speciiication, in which I have represented someexamples, reserving, however, the option of making such changes thereinand in the applications thereof as will not involve a departure from theprincipal object or spirit of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my circular commutator, andFig. 2 is a detail of part thereof on a larger scale. Fig. 3

shows the handle or key of the commutator. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectionthrough one of the contacts of the commutator. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveView of the general arrangement of my switch key-boards for operatingthe various pyrotechnical pieces. Fig. Gis a longitudinal section of asimple Catherine wheel, and Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the same. Figs.8 and 9 are similar sections for a multiple Catherine wheel having threerevolving annuli, and Fig. l0 is a diagram showing the transmission ofmotion thereto. Figs. lland 12 show an elevation and section of afour-cylinder cascade. Fig. 13 shows a simple cascade. Figs. 14 and l5represent a girandole, and Figs. 16 and 17 show details of constructionthereof. Fig. 18 is a longitudinal section of one of the contacts orkeys of the switch key-board. Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view of theelectrical connections and circuits, by means of which the effects of aserpent or rocket may be produced. Fig. 20 is a perspective view of areel-box and commutator.

A serpent or rocket by my system is composed of vertical, inclined,straight, or curved lines (with or Without horizontal return) ofparallel lamps or lamps in series of 2, 3, 4, or 5, according to thelength of the serpent or rocket.

In Fig. 19 I have illustrated the electrical connections and thearrangement of incandescent lights in conjunction with the keyboard andcommutator, whereby the effect of a serpent or rocket may be produced.In this ligure the lamps c are arranged parallel to each other or inseries upon suitable crossbars B, placed upon posts I II. A wire D,common to all the lamps of one post I, is` attached to one key J of thekey-board and to one pole of each of the lamps of one post. The otherpoles of the lamps on such post I are connected by separate wires E F GH to separate contact-pieces of the commutator e. The correspondingpoles of the lamps on the other post II connect by wire D with their ownkey J2 ot' the key-board and by wires E F G II with the samecontact-pieces of the commutator to which the other wires E F Gr l-Irespectively go. The same plan is followed with any suitable number ofposts. The wire lD extends also from the key-board to the battery orlother source of electrical energy and to the commutator. It will beunderstood,

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therefore, that one key .I of the key-board is connected by one commonwire D to one pole of all the lamps upon one post, while each contact ofthe commutator is connected by separate wires running to one pole of`one lamp of each post. I'lence by depressing a key of the key-board onepost is brought into circuit, and by then actuating the circuitcloser ofthe commutator all the lamps of that post are successively brought intoaction.

The commutator is more fully shown in Figs. l to 4t. In these figures cis the disk,iu which are mounted the spring-raised contacts 71,connected with the various lamps. f is the lever-handle or key carryingan oblique segmental or ot her shaped contact g, whose length andObliquity depend upon the number of lamps on one post which it isdesired to reuder incandescent at the same moment, (three in the exampleshown in Fig. By rotating this handlef with sufficient speed over thecircle of cont-acts 7L the eifect of a serpent or rocket orotherpyrotechnic figure is produced, the lamps being lighted one, two,or three at a time in consecutive order from the bottom upward,according to the inclination of the segment, ifA the illusion of arocket is to be produced. At the moment when the last lamps of theseries are lighted the bouquet or bouquets of the serpent or rocket arelighted either by the same or another commutator. These bouquets may becomposed of a group of lamps of the same or different colors suitably.arranged to represent any given subj ect-as, for example, birds,iiowers, iigures, or diverse objects. It will be understood, therefore,that in the production of pyro-technic effects, whether in the form ofrockets, serpents, wheels, and the forms hereinafter described, Iarrange the lights or lamps in one or more series and interpose betweenthe source of electricity and these lights a commutator and a key-board.The

f key-board is connected to the source of electricity and has each keyconnected by a common wire to each lamp 'in one series, and thecommutator has each contact connected by separate wires to a single lampin all the series and is also connected with the source of electricity.By manipulating the key-board one or more series of lamps successivelyor simultaneously may be brought into circuit, and by manipulating thesegment of the commutator separate lamps in these series so brought intocircuit by the key-board are successively lighted.

Instead of the serpent or rocket extending only in the upward direction,it may be carried horizontally at its upper part on one or more linesextending in various directions and arranged so as lto return above theheads of the spectators, and similarlyin the case of the bouquets. Inthis case the same`point of departure may be com mon to all thehorizontal members of the serpent or rocket. It will be understood thatthese horizontal lines of lamps are mounted on a frame-work, the

whole being supported by a cable stretched between suitable supports,such as masts, trees, columns, or walls, dac.

IVhen the lamps are in groups of four or tive in series, it isnecessary, in the case of serpents or rockets of more than thirty yardslong, to couple two lamps in one of the derivations, with three lamps inthe following derivation-that is to say, if the first wire supplieslamps l 2 3 and ti 7, for instance, the second wire will supply lamps et5 and S 9 10, and so on, with the object of avoiding in the case ofbreakage of the filament of any one lamp the extinction of iiveconsecutive lamps, which would cause a break of continuity of about twofeet, more or less.

Having described the construction of the serpents or rockets, thebouquets, andthe commutator, I will now state that the wires areconveniently carried on reels carried in a box, from which they areconveniently un coiled. I have illustrated a form of reel-box in Fig.20. These coils have a uniform length of about one hundred yards, eachof the wires communicating with one of the pins or contacts of the commutator e of the serpent or rocket, the top of this coil-box forming thebase of one or more commutators.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the key-board for serpents or rockets and fortheir bouquets, which will be specially described hereinafter. Byproviding three or more banks of keysthe eifect of rockets or serpentsmay be produced, and by operating them inversely the effect of a rain offire may be produced, if the lines of lamps are sufficiently closetogether and are approximately parallel.

I will now describe the construct-ion of the Catherine wheels, which maybe iixed or rotary, simple or multiple, and by means whereof verypowerful luminous effects may be produced. As the stationary Catherinewheels are very little usedfit is unnecessary to describe them, as theycome within the category of stationary pieces or form partthereof. Fig.t3 is a section of a simple Catherine wheel formed of a single rotarydisk. This disk i, has a sheet-iron central portion covered with twoinsulatingplates of wood ,7' j. It is fixed upon a tubular shaft of ironabout one or two inches in diameter and a yard long, supported byflanges or rings 7.3', running on frictionrollers and provided at itsrear end with a grooved pulley, upon which runs a belt driven from acorresponding pulley on the dynamo. On the outer surface of the disk/aremounted in the torni of radii or of concentric circles incandescentlamps arranged parallel or in series. \Vhen the diameter ofthe Catherinewheel exceeds eight feet, it is preferred to apply to the disk a solidplate for receiving the lamps. Along the length of the hollow shaft areseries of holes or slits, through which pass the leading wires conveyingthe current to the lamps of the Catherine wheel, these wires alsopassing through an annular wooden sheathing m and being connected torings of IOO IIO

copper or brass n in said sheathing m, and insulated from one anotherand from the shaft by said sheathingm. An electric brush bearsconstantly on each brass ring, so that whatever may be the motion of theCatherine wheel each brush, when brought into electrical contact by thekey-board and commutator, transmits the current to the correspondingring, wire, and lamps.

In order to obtain from a simple Catherine wheel all the possibleeiects, it would be necessary that the lamps should be in multiple andthat each lamp should be operated by a special commutator, As this isnot always possible, the lamps are divided in mounting; them into groupsof colors and arranged in series, if necessary, at opposite points ofthe Catherine wheel, solas to avoid considerable gaps in the case ofbreakage of lthev filament of any one lamp.

Figs. S and 9 show a multiple Catherine wheel with triple revolvinganniili. The construction is similar to that of the Catherine wheel witha single disk. o is the central disk surrounded with two concentricrings p and q. The disk 0 is mounted on a central shaft r, while the tworings are respectively mounted on concentric hollow shafts s t, allthree shafts being supported by friction-roller bearings, as in theformer case, the arrangement of the wires being also similar, and eachof these shafts r s having a driving-pulley, which is driven by an openor crossed belt from a corresponding pulley on the dynamo, asrepresented in the diagram Fig. 10. Around the whole ot the contiguousperipheries of the disk and rings are projecting points so arranged asto pass one another during the rotary motion in such a way that apowerful discharge of sparks will be produced between them.

Figs. 11 and 12 represent a cascade of multicolored tires produced bylamps mounted on revolving disks, cylinders, or arms. 'it u u2 us arecylinders of wood mounted on horizontal shafts, each shaft beingconstructed in the manner before described in respectof theCatherinewheel shaft, the poles being at 0pposite ends ot' the shafts,which are driven by belts from the dynamo. The connections with thepositive poles determine the lighting in lines of the lamps situated onthe halves of the cylinders which are presented to View, while the lampswhich are situated at the rear of the longitudinal vertical plane areextinguished by the intervention of segments or gaps in thecommutator-disks.

Fig. 13 represents asimple cascade formed by lamps carried upon anendless apron y, running over guide-rollers X X X the side of the apronpresented to view being inclined. Z is a metallic web in communicationwith the wires of the commutators and upon which rub brushesjg,communicating with those of the lamps which are presented to View, theremainder being extinguished.

A simple girandole is shown in Figs. 14,15,

,with a copper-wire-gauze pad.

and 16, and consists of a double endless belt a, whereon are mounted atsuiiicientlyshort intervals cross pieces l), eacli carrying a certainnumber of lamps c, according to the desired width of the girandole. Atthe upper and lower ends of the frame-work A are mounted giiide-rollers(Z,v arranged in a semicircle, around which the belt a passes. Motion isimparted to the belts and lamps by rotating the guide-rollers.

Fig. 15 is a cross-section of the apparatus,

showing the position of the wires. The wires coming from the commutatorconnect with metallic strips e2, either by means of brushes orotherwise, and from each strip asingle' wire runs along the cross-bar bto a lamp and back again to another strip. By suitably operating thecommiitator, to which all the wires are led, all sorts of beautifulluminous eiects may be produced by lighting up the lamps by groups,lines, cr colors.

It will be evident that the invention 1s not limited to the particularapplications described, as all sorts ot pyrotechnic devices, howevercomplicated, may be easily imitated.

I will now describe the mechanismbywhich the illumination of the variouspieces is controlled. It consists ot a series of keys disposed liketliose of a piano and forming as many comm utators or separate contacts.Fig. 5 shows the general arrangement for controlling several dilerentset pieces in combination with a series of serpents or rockets. Fig. 18shows oneof these keys or commutators, having perfect contacts producedby electro-magnets and wire-cloth pads specially constructed forapplication to pyrotechnical purposes. 1 and 2 are the contacts forclosing the circuit in each of the electro-magnets X and X', 13 and 14being respectively the points of ingress and egress of the currents forexciting the electro-magnets. The illuminating-current enters thecommutator at 3, passes through wire to the contact 5, movable about theaxis 6 of the commutator, which is surrounded by a collar 7, forming abearing. 8 is a metal arm furnished at its lower face 9 is a second padof copper-wire gauze, the two constituting the upper and lowercontact-plates of the commutator, and the latter being connected With aterminal 12, at which the current passes out. The armatures of theelectro-magnets X X are covered with an iiisiilating-plate 10, so as toseparate the parts of the conimiitator, in which pass t-he current ofthe armatures 1l, attracted by the electro-magnets. 16 is the key, ofivory or other vinsulating material. The lever 18, raised in theposition'shown, carries a weight 17 to balance the key, which isdepressed under normal conditions, as shown.

Having described my invention, what I claim,'and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

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1. The combination of series of electric lamps with a key-board and acommutator and with a conductor from a series of lamps to the keyboardand with the conductors E F G Il, the., from each of the lamps of oneseries to the eommutator, corresponding lamps of the different seriesconnecting with like contacts of the commntator, sulistantially asherein shown and described.

2. The combination of one or more rotating carriers, mechanism,substantially as de scribed, for rotating the same, with series ofelectric lamps c secured to said carriers and with series of conductorsfrom said lamps, rotating sheathing m and insulated conducting-rings athereon, and with brushes bearing on said rings and connecting with thesource of electricity, all arranged as specified.

The combination of series of concentric carriers o p, each carryingseries ot electriclights c, with conductors to the respective lights,with mechanism for rotating the said carriers and their lampsindependently one of the other, and With mechanism, substantially asdescribed, for conveying the electric fluid to the lamps in the desiredsuccession, the Said carriers o p having on their contiguous peripheriesprojecting points and being combined with conductors, all arranged sothat when the points on the respective carriers pass one another sparksWill be created, as specified.

4. In a key-board, the combination of the electromagnets X X', theirarmatures 1l, insulating-plates lO thereon, both said armatures beingattached to a single swinging bar S, all arranged so that when onearmature is in contact with its electro-magnet the other is out ofContact, and vice versa, one arm of said bar 8 being weighted, and withthe cou ductors ll, 13, 4f, and l2, all substantially as and for thepurpose herein shown and described.

5. In a connnutator, the combination of the disk e, having series ofspring-raised contacts 7L,Witli the lever f and with the segmental arm gthereon, the lower-face of said arm being oblique, all arranged so thatby rotating the handle f several of said contacts 7L will besimultaneously and successively depressed, all arranged substantially asdescribed.

G. In apparatus for creating pyrotechnic elfects with the aid ofelectricity, the combination of a source of electricity, a commutatoranda 'key-board, with a series of conductors and series of electric lampson carriers, each of the contacts ot said commutator being in electricalcommunication with one lamp ot each series, and each key of saidkey-board being in electrical communication with all the lamps in oneseries, and with mechanism, substantially as described, for rotating thelamp-carriers, as specified.

The toregoin g specification of my improvements in the application ofelectricity for the production of pyrotcchnic and other similar effects,signed by me this 21st day of April, 1891.

PIERRE ClIARLuS EUGENE CHAMPION.

lVitnesses:

Roer. M. lloornn, ALBERT MOREAU.

